Presbyteries triall, or, The occasion and motives of conversion to the Catholique faith of a person of quality in Scotland ; to which is svbioyned, A little tovch-stone of the Presbyterian covenant

CHAP. XXXVI. The Conclusion.

AS light is more pleasant, after darknesse; so is the invention of truth more delight∣full, after errors. I have now, by Gods grace, and by the former Triall, seen, both our pre∣tended

Reformations (which were called such great engyring Lights) to be nothing, but thick Aegyptian darknesse, obscuring the chief and most clear truths of the Christian Reli∣gion: both in doctrin, & disciplin. I have now found amongst the Protestants, what S. Au∣gustin observed amongst the Manichees, that they have nothing, but a meer promise of truth, a pretext of following only the Scriptures, whē indeed they follow their own Errors: That their doctrin is nothing, but counterfeit Met∣tall, which cannot endure the fire of Triall. Yea, I have clearly seen, that their Church, which is the ground work of all, has not the least resemblance of the Church of Christ; as she is without ambiguity described, in the Scriptures. For, according to them, the Ch∣urch of Christ must endure, for ever: But the Protestant Church has only endured, since the time of Luther. According to the Scriptures, the Church cannot be hid, but must ever shine, like a light, set vpon a Candlestick: But the Protestant Church has lyen many hundred years hid and invisible, vnder a bushell. The Church of Christ must have Vnity, as beco∣mes the house of God: But the Protestant Church is full of division & confusion, both in doctrin, & disciplin. The true Church must be holy, in all her doctrin, and fruitfull in pro∣duceing Saints: But the Protestant Church teacheth doctrines, which tend to prophanesse & to the neglect of piety & of all good works: and she is so barren, in produceing Saints, that

she professeth to bring forth none, but those who continually, or dayly, break mortally Gods Commandments. The true Church, ac∣cording to the Scriptures, must be Catholique or Vniversal, and must convert all Nations from infidelity to Christianity: But the Pro∣testant Church is only in parts & pettie cor∣ners of the earth: and has never, as yet, con∣verted any Nation of Infidels; but, according to the nature of heresy, has only perverted so∣me ill Catholiques. The true Church must ever have true Pastors, lawfully called and or∣dained, deriving their Succession, by an vn∣interrupted line, from the holy Apostles: But the Protestant Churches first Pastors succee∣ded to none; and, without any lawfull Voca∣tion & ordination, did intrude themselves by Vsurpation, into the Pastoral office, as all their successors have done. The true Church ad∣heres so closly to the truth, that she is called in the Scriptures, The pillar & ground of truth: But the Protestant Church is so inconstant, pas∣sing from one falshood into another; that she may be called the Pillar & ground of Error. The true Church, according to Christs promise, is ever directed by the Spirit of truth, into all truth: But the Protestant Church is misgover∣ned, by the Spirit of giddinesse; as is known by fresh experience. These considerations, besides others, make me see the great dark∣nesse, wherein I lay, and have made me to admire of my former blindnesse; that I, read∣ing so frequently the Scriptures, did not see

the monstrous difference, which is between the Church of Christ, there so clearly descri∣bed, and the Protestant Church, to which not one propertie of the true Church contain'd in the Scriptures doth agree. This shew me, how necessary it is to read the Scriptures with at∣tention, and to implore the Divine Maie∣sty for spirituall illumination; without which darknesse will seem light, and light dark∣nesse.

But in the holy Catholique Church, I found not only promise, but also perfor∣formance of truth. I found her faith to be more pretious then gold, which is tried by the fire, as S. Peter speaks; which, after greatest oppo∣sition and triall, doth ever shine more bright∣ly. I found, in this Church, clearly fulfilled, all the Prophesies, and that to her do agree all the properties of the true Church, described in the Scriptures. For this is the Church, wh∣ich alone has endured, since the time of the Apostles. This is the Church, which, as a Citie seated on a hill, could never be hid: but, as a Candle set vpon a Candlestick, hath en∣lightned the whole world. This is the Church, which has been admirable for its Vnity, and eminent for its sanctity: replenishing the hea∣ven with innumerable Saints, who have all lived and died, in the bosome of her Commu∣nion. This is the Church, which is Vniversal for time & place, which has had her gates con∣tinually open night and day, to receive the strength of the Gentils, which she alone has

converted, from infidelity to Christianity. This is the Church, which has had a continued succession of Pastors, descending, without in∣terruption, from the holy Apostles. This is the Church, which adheres so closely to the faith she once received, that she would never part from it, nor yield in one syllabe or letter, nei∣ther to Heathnish cruelty, nor to heretical im∣piety, and which neither force, nor flatterie could ever shake: so that, she may be iustly called the Pillar & ground of Veritie. This Ch∣urch is the chast Virgin & Spouse of Christ, which has been ever falsly accused, as an Adul∣teresse, by all Heretical Strumpets, and has been even overloaden with their Calumnies: but she has alwayes adhered vnto her heaven∣ly spouse, who, in his own time, has manife∣sted her innocencie, and brought confusion on her Enemies: And, in a word, this is the Ch∣urch, which is admirable for its order and go∣vernment; for its supreme authority, and in∣vincible strength, for its heavenly doctrin, and great holynesse, and lastly for her power of working miracles. What then can I do more fitly, then, after so great darknesse, to embra∣ce so clear a light? after so many dangerous er∣rors and wandrings, to put my self in the di∣rect way of Salvation, and incorporat my self without delay into this one, holy, Catholique & Apostolique Church: wherein all the holy Fathers & all the Saints have liv'd and dyed? What can I vse more properly, then the words of S. Augustin, who saith to this purpose: sin∣ce

we see so great help of God, so great profit and fruite, shall we make any doubt at all, to retire vnto the bosome of that Church, which, from the Apostolique Sea, by succession of Bishops, has ob∣taind the Soveraign authority, heretiques in vain barking round about it? &c. To which, not to yield the Primacy, is either a matter of greatest impiety, or of precipitat arrogancy. The same Motives, which held S. Augustin within the Catholique Church, have drawn me vnto it: To witt: the Consent of People and Nations, Authority begun by Miracles, nourished by Hope, enlarged by Charity, and Confirmed by Antiqui∣ty: The Succession of Priests, from the Seat of Peter, vnto the present Bishoprick: And last of all, the very name Catholique, which, not with∣out cause, this Church has only obtaind, among so many Heresies.

As then S. Andrew, and the Woman of Sa∣maria were glad, when they found the Mes∣sias foretould by the Prophets; because they were sure, to find with him, all truth: So am I no lesse overioyed, to have found the true Church, foretould and clearly described by the Messias: for, with her, I am sure to find all truth: since she is the Pillar and ground of Truth; and Christ has promised to her the Spirit of truth, to remain with her for ever, to lead her into all truth. As the Apostles belie∣ved Christ: for the voice of God the Father, who said; This is my beloved Son: heare him; so I believe the Church, for the voice of God the Son, who said: Who heares you, heares me, and

who despiseth yow, despiseth me, and who will not hear the Church, let him be to thee, as a Heathen & a Publican. And, as the holy Apostles did believe Christ, in all things; because he recei∣ved all, from his father: so I believe the Ca∣tholique Church, in all points, because she has received all her doctrines, from Christ & his Apostles, and has faithfully retaind them. This Catholique Church is she alone, which, as an aun∣cient Father writeth, retaines the true worship. This is the fountain of truth, and House of Faith. This is the Temple of God: into which, if one do not enter, or from which, if one go astray, he is a stranger from the hope of life and eternal Salva∣tion. Here, in this house of faith, is found the the true Catholique & invariable faith, of wh∣ich S. Augustin truly saith: That no riches, no treasures, no honors, no substance of this world are comparable vnto it: Therefore, in end, I will offer vp my thanksgiving vnto God, in the words of that glorious Doctor, for the same benefite. Truly, O Lord, thou art my God, who hast drawn me out of darknesse, and out of the shadow of death: and thou hast called me, into thy admirable light, and behold I see. Thanks be given to thee, O thou, who art the il∣luminator of my soule. I looked back, and saw the darknesse, wherein I had been, and that profound black pitt wherein I had lyen: and I was sore af∣fraid, and said Wo, Wo be to that darknes, whe∣rein I lay. Wo, Wo be to that blindnes, wherein, I was not able to see the light of Heaven. Wo Wo to that former ignorance of mine, when I had no

knowledge of thee, O Lord. But I give thee thanks, O my Illuminator, and deliverer; because thou hast illuminated me, and I have knowen thee. Yet still am I come too late to thee, O thou an∣tient Truth: too late am I come to know thee, O thou eternal Truth. And, because I cannot prai∣se thee sufficiently, I humbly desire the blessed Virgin, & all the Angels & Saints of heaven, to blisse and magnify thy glorious name; and to offer vp their holy prayers for me, that, as by thy grace, I have acquired the true faith: So I may also attayn vnto sincere piety: and so may have the happinesse to praise thee, in their ho∣ly society, for all Eternity. Amen.

Notes

• Aug. cont. epist. fund, c. 4.
• 1. Ti∣moth. 3.15.
• 1. Pet. 1.7.
• Aug. dt v••il. credendi c. 17.
• Idem cont. epist. fund. c. 4.
• Iohn 1.41. Iohn 4.29.
• Mark. 9.7. Luke 10.16.
• Math. 18.19.
• Lactan. lib. 4. divinar. Instit. c. vlt.
• Aug. serm. 1. de ver∣bis Apost
• Aug. So∣liloq. c. 33.